A DREAM that started almost four years ago finally reaches its defining moment tomorrow when Zimbabwe face their Kenyan counterparts in a make-or-break 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifier at the Mahamasina Municipal Stadium in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
SPORTS REPORTER
The Sables need not only a win against Kenya, but must also score more than four tries in the process to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup Qualifying tournament in Madagascar and the coveted ticket to next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Should the Sables pull it off tomorrow they will join champions New Zealand, Argentina, Tonga and Georgia in Pool C in what will be their first Ruby World Cup in over two decades.
It has been a long and weary journey for the Sables, whose bid to return to the game’s greatest stage for the first time since 1991 has been filled with many obstacles.
Despite travelling to the qualifiers without adequate match practice due to financial problems, the Sables started their campaign on a positive note after beating hosts Madagascar 57-22.
The Sables, however, left themselves with an uphill task after going down 24-20 to rivals Namibia although the bonus point which they collected from the narrow defeat will give them some hope of securing automatic qualification to the World Cup.
Zimbabwe are expected to make changes to their forwards department after lock Jan Ferreira and versatile loose forward Njabulo Ndlovu were ruled out of tomorrow’s do-or-die encounter due to injury.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Experienced forward Fortune Chipendu was called up to join the squad after being initially left out.
Kenya might be in pole position to qualify for their first ever Rugby World Cup, but remain wary of the threat posed by Zimbabwe.
In an interview with IRB.com, Kenya star Humphrey Kayange acknowledged that while they were in the driving seat to qualify, Zimbabwe would pose a serious threat to their aspirations.
“We played well in the first two games, getting two wins, which puts us in a good position heading into the final round of matches,” he said.
“Zimbabwe are a big team who will come at us hard and the key for us is composure, to keep focused and to ensure that we get the points that we require.”
In a separate interview Jerome Paarwater, the Kenya coach said the Sables would be tough oppositions and argued his charges to remain focused.
“We need to focus up until the last game. Anything can happen We need points out of that game to qualify but we are on track. We know Zimbabwe is going to come out and it will be hard but our boys.”
Sables Probable Starting XV 1 D Mutamangira, 2 M Mandioma, 3 K Nqindi, 4 S Ferreira, 5 S Sibanda, 6 G Lawler, 7 J Leitao, 8 L Groenewald, 9 H Mudariki, 10 G Cronje, 11 S Hunduza, 12 R. O’Neill, 13 D Hondo (c), 14 T Chitokwindo, 15 T Nemadire Replacements 16 K Murray, 17 P Joubert, 18 L Clemenson, 19 F Chipendu, 20 K Lang, 21 P Du Toit, 22 L Tambwera, 23 G Sibanda
